Review of Urban Planning Support Status
Sharing Cases of Establishing Innovation Growth Facilities
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on June 18 that it held the "Seoul City-University Urban Planning Innovation Roundtable" with more than 20 universities. The city shared examples of establishing innovative university facilities and requested that universities introduce community contribution facilities for local residents.
This roundtable was organized to review the current status of urban planning support in order to create an educational environment that responds to the spatial needs of universities and changes in future conditions due to technological advancement.
More than 50 representatives from universities participating in the "University Urban Planning Innovation" initiative, including Korea University, Sogang University, Sejong University, Yonsei University, Ewha Womans University, Korea Bible University, and Hongik University, attended the roundtable.
In December 2022, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced its "University Urban Planning Support Plan," revising ordinances and standards related to university facilities to ease floor area ratio restrictions and eliminate height limits within natural landscape districts. The city also relaxed the requirement for annex parking lots to one vehicle per 250 square meters and promoted regional connectivity by removing school fences, among other measures.
In June 2024, the city announced "University Urban Planning Innovation 2.0," which provides institutional and administrative support for university urban planning innovation and encourages universities to share their infrastructure with local communities. Currently, 10 universities are participating in the university urban planning innovation initiative.
The city shared examples of universities establishing innovation growth facilities such as industry-academia-research collaboration spaces as part of the "University Urban Planning Innovation" initiative and encouraged additional universities to participate.
Chung-Ang University (August 2024), Sejong University (December 2024), and Sungkyunkwan University (May) are each preparing to begin construction on innovation growth facilities?namely, the Natural Science and Engineering Cluster, Aejihun, and the Future Innovation Hall?after completing the urban planning decision notification process.
In addition, alongside university innovation efforts, the Seoul Metropolitan Government requested that universities consider introducing community contribution facilities that genuinely meet the needs of local residents in order to create "Open Campuses" that share the physical and intellectual assets of universities with citizens.
The city also proposed that universities utilize idle facilities as Seoul-style kids cafes or public wedding halls to create a child-rearing-friendly environment and participate in policies supporting newlywed couples.
Cho Namjun, Director General of the Urban Space Headquarters of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "This roundtable was an opportunity for the city and universities to join forces in nurturing talent and establishing innovation hubs for Seoul's future. We will continue to provide proactive and sustained support to ensure that universities become central pillars of urban innovation."
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